TY - JOUR
T1 - Neuroethics and fMRI: Mapping a fledgling relationship
AU - Garnett, Alex
AU - Whiteley, Louise Emma
AU - Piwowar, Heather
AU - Rasmussen, Edie
AU - Illes, Judy
PY - 2011/4/22
Y1 - 2011/4/22
N2 - Human functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) informs the understanding of the neural basis of mental function and is a key domain of ethical enquiry. It raises questions about the practice and implications of research, and reflexively informs ethics through the empirical investigation of moral judgments. It is at the centre of debate surrounding the importance of neuroscience findings for concepts such as personhood and free will, and the extent of their practical consequences. Here, we map the landscape of fMRI and neuroethics, using citation analysis to uncover salient topics. We find that this landscape is sparsely populated: despite previous calls for debate, there are few articles that discuss both fMRI and ethical, legal, or social implications (ELSI), and even fewer direct citations between the two literatures. Recognizing that practical barriers exist to integrating ELSI discussion into the research literature, we argue nonetheless that the ethical challenges of fMRI, and controversy over its conceptual and practical implications, make this essential.
AB - Human functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) informs the understanding of the neural basis of mental function and is a key domain of ethical enquiry. It raises questions about the practice and implications of research, and reflexively informs ethics through the empirical investigation of moral judgments. It is at the centre of debate surrounding the importance of neuroscience findings for concepts such as personhood and free will, and the extent of their practical consequences. Here, we map the landscape of fMRI and neuroethics, using citation analysis to uncover salient topics. We find that this landscape is sparsely populated: despite previous calls for debate, there are few articles that discuss both fMRI and ethical, legal, or social implications (ELSI), and even fewer direct citations between the two literatures. Recognizing that practical barriers exist to integrating ELSI discussion into the research literature, we argue nonetheless that the ethical challenges of fMRI, and controversy over its conceptual and practical implications, make this essential.
KW - Cluster Analysis
KW - Databases as Topic
KW - Humans
KW - Magnetic Resonance Imaging
KW - Neurosciences
KW - Periodicals as Topic
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0018537
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0018537
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 21526115
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 6
SP - e18537
JO - P L o S One
JF - P L o S One
IS - 4
ER -